Last week on a stormy day with lightening flashing, thunder crashing, and an insufficient umbrella in hand, I set off to meet Erik for lunch at IndoChine, located on Singapore’s trendy Club Street. This small road obtained its name from an establishment which accepted only the wealthiest in colonial Singapore as members. The Club has since moved, but the name remains for this charming street, dotted with well-preserved shophouses converted into popular restaurants.
As I made my way past restaurants bearing names such as Les Bouchons, Jerry’s Barbecue and Grill, and Beaujolais Wine Bar, my first thought, as I peered out from under my umbrella, was that I wanted to come back soon and try these other eateries. I finally arrived at IndoChine, easy to miss because of its second floor location. The restaurant boasts a fusion décor – with Buddha heads and local batik prints from Asia complemented by bold western finishes such as the drooping chandelier that hung over our table. As the name reflects, the menu offered traditional Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian-inspired dishes.
We sat down in a mostly empty dining room and started with two appetizers: Nem Khao Hor, roasted rice cake rolls with minced chicken (S$15 or about US$11.50); and Sai Kong, homemade sausages flavored with Laotian traditional herbs and spices and served with chilies, peanuts, lime, ginger and fresh lettuce (S$18 or about US$14). We loved the former, which had a nice kick but the latter was disappointing, much blander than expected – and where was the yummy sauce that usually accompanies such dishes?
For our main courses, we ordered Thit Bo Nuong Xa, grilled beef marinated with lemongrass and garlic and garnished with rice vermicelli, cucumber and carrots (S$25 or about US$19) and Mang Tay Xao Sot Cua, stir-fried asparagus with garlic, onions in a crab sauce with a touch of chili ($20 or just under US$15). Again, we were disappointed with the first dish, which seemed a missed opportunity for spicy regional flavoring, but we enjoyed the asparagus with their sharp taste.
We were glad to have tried IndoChine, but my husband and I both agreed we wouldn’t return. While we had a fine meal, it wasn’t as interesting or tasty as others, and with so many restaurants from which to choose in Singapore, we didn’t find anything that would tempt our return.
Indochine can be found at 47 Club Street, Singapore, 069424, telephone number +65 6323-0503.
Read about other food adventures at Wanderfood Wednesday.